Meet Buddye Laub, a senior resident at Cascade Heights

Isabelle (Buddye) Laub does volunteer work at Cascade Heights running their little store. She is always busy crocheting gifts for family and friends.

Often people forget that the senior residents at assisted-living facilities had exciting lives in their earlier years. They each have a story to tell. Here is Buddye’s story.

Buddye was born in Newark, New Jersey, but spent most of her life in Baltimore and Orlando. Her father was an engineer. Her mother passed when Buddye was only seven years old, and she “raised herself.” Her mother called her Buddye because they were best buddies and so enjoyed being together. She remembers going to the Hippadrome with her mother, in Baltimore, to see shows.

Buddye had one brother. She has four wonderful children, six terrific grandchildren and four fabulous great-grandchildren. She met her husband at a dance during WWII and they were together from that day on. They were happily married for 52 years.

Buddye is always well-dressed and her jewelry matches each outfit. Her favorite color is purple.

Buddye’s favorite subject was science. Buddye attended Forrest Park High School and Sinai Hospital Nursing School. She was a nurse’s aid and a firewatcher during World War II and later a cadet nurse.

Buddye and her husband were engaged in volunteer work their entire lives. Up north, she was president of her Sisterhood and an active life member of Hadassah. She ran big carnivals with ferris wheels and a Christmas Day volunteer meal delivery program to relieve the hospital staff from working. She and her husband cooked meals for 400 people at their synagogue and cooked for the homeless for many years. They also delivered Meals on Wheels. Buddye was on the board of directors for the Tuskawilla Home Owners Association and the board of directors at the senior center where she often spoke to the Board of Commissioners about senior issues.

Buddye likes all kinds of music. Her husband especially enjoyed opera. Her favorites dessert is tiramisu. She did not have a pet growing up but her children had a full menagerie—dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, Guinea pigs and even snakes.

Her first job was at a Five and Dime at the age of 15 (she lied on her application and said she was 16.)

Buddy played all sorts of sports but especially enjoyed field hockey and swimming. She did not grow up with TV but enjoyed Saturday morning radio shows such as Green Hornet. Movies were 15 cents when she was growing up. They went on the weekends and there were talent shows and stage shows prior to each movie.